Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to present a comprehensive report detailing Uganda’s preparedness for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.
The directive follows growing concern among legislators over the government’s low-key approach to publicising CHAN 2024, which kicks off on August 2.
Lawmakers questioned whether Uganda is genuinely ready to host major continental tournaments, particularly with advertising and infrastructure gaps still visible.
Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa and Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Ssegona led the charge, expressing shock that key stakeholders have failed to adequately promote CHAN, despite its huge potential to boost Uganda’s sports and tourism sectors.
“It’s surprising that the key stakeholders haven’t prioritised advertisement of CHAN,” Ssegona remarked during a parliamentary session, adding that Uganda risks missing out on the tournament’s full value due to poor visibility and local engagement.
In response, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang pointed to limitations arising from an agreement signed with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which he said places restrictions on how the tournament is promoted internally.
“The lack of enough advertisement is based on the agreement signed by the hosting countries and CAF,” Ogwang explained, adding that the government is now mobilising domestic resources to ramp up promotion efforts in the days leading to kickoff.
That explanation, however, drew further questions, with Ssegona demanding to know why Uganda would sign an agreement that effectively prevents it from promoting an event it is co-hosting.
“Why did Uganda sign an agreement that blocks Uganda from advertising internally?” he asked.
Despite the concerns, Uganda has made notable strides in physical preparations. The iconic Mandela National Stadium in Namboole has undergone renovation to meet CAF standards, while UGX 113 billion (approximately $30 million) has been allocated to support CHAN 2024 readiness.
In addition to stadium upgrades, the government is investing in the tourism and hospitality sectors through the construction of new hotels and the refurbishment of existing facilities.
However, officials acknowledge that the country still faces a deficit of approximately 10,000 hotel rooms; an issue that could hamper Uganda’s ability to accommodate visiting fans and tourists during the tournaments.
With just days to CHAN and AFCON still two years away, the spotlight is now on Uganda’s ability to not only meet infrastructural benchmarks but also ensure local and international visibility for the tournaments.
